When you build… tips from the past pt. 3

Air Trails Hobbies for Young Men was a popular source for model building information in the 1950s.  A monthly “Sketchbook” column allowed readers to share original building and flying tips. 

Polyhedral Wings

A diagram shows how to best support the polyhedral joint in a wing frame.
“Finishing Touches,” Air Trails Model Annual 1954, pg. 70.

“Easy spar-joining trick for polyhedralled wings – Ideal for rubber models and light gassies … no gussets necessary –” 

Landing Gear

A diagram showing how to strengthen landing gear.
“Sketchbook,” Air Trails Hobbies for Young Men, December 1954, pg. 65.

“Shock-absorbing feature added to dural gear on team racers & sport models is development of John Schroeter, Sacramento, Calif.”

Building From a Kit:

A diagram suggesting how to use dope to help strenghthen kit sheets in model kits.
“Sketchbook,” Air Trails Hobbies for Young Men, June 1954, pg. 82.

“To strengthen and improve die-cut balsa pieces, dope & sand sheets before separating parts suggests John Yedirak, Harnell, N.Y.”

These tips are presented honoring Model Aviation’s October issue on scratch building.  This is the last post in this series, but feel free to continue the discussion of tried and true building advice in the comments or on the museum’s Facebook.

p.s. Want to read one of the full articles mentioned above? Order an article reprint!